[Archived] Rafa Benitez

[BangkokRover]

I thought I would write this even although I should be be packing to go to Kuala Lumpur for the F1 Race. Anyway here goes a review of Rafa's time at Liverpool against Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. Sorry about the crap formatting of the tables but I am in a rush

Champions: Chelsea

2nd: Arsenal

3rd: Man Utd

4th: Everton

5th: Liverpool

Rovers 15th

Champions: Chelsea

2nd: Man U

3rd: Liverpool

4th: Arsenal

Rovers finish 6th

Champions: Man U

2nd: Chelsea

3rd: Liverpool

4th Arsenal

Rovers 10th

Champions: Man U

2nd Chelsea

3rd Arsenal

4th Liverpool

Rovers 7th

Champions: Man U

2nd: Liverpool

3rd: Chelsea

4th: Arsenal

Rovers 15th

Can some one reply so I can add the final part, as I am at the picture limit.

[dave birch]

Go ahead

[BangkokRover]

Champions: Chelsea

2nd: Man U

3rd: Arsenal

4th: Tottenham

5th: Man City

6th: Liverpool

Rovers 10th

It would probably be useful if someone could work out the total points of the teams over the time period and list the total trophies won. Sorry I don't have time to do that.

Cheers

BKR

[BangkokRover]

Go ahead

Cheers Dave

[chaddyrovers]

yes please! you surely can't any worse!

I hate you as much as SAF but I will take anybody who have a clue about football can't Kean does not!

you wouldn't be my first 3 choices but I will take anybody at the mo.

[Hughesy]

WTF is this thread all about?! Sorry but Iv glanced over that 1st post and it made very little sense!!

[Mattyblue]

I would crawl over broken glass to get him here.

More than anything it would prove that Venky's/Anderson et al would be getting their oars out of team affairs.

[Steve Moss]

Rafa would not be in either my top 10 or even top 20 list. On the other hand, he's a much better choice than Kean.

[Hughesy]

Id rather have Sam over Rafa.

As for other possibilities....someone like Ranieri would be ideal I think.

[tony gale's mic]

Rafa would not be in either my top 10 or even top 20 list. On the other hand, he's a much better choice than Kean.

Mourinho, Van Gaal and Wenger aside, which realistic choices would make your top 20 list?

[yeti-dog]

Looking at all those transfer dealings it seems clear he's bought plenty of complete crap over the years for ridiculous sums of money.. Don't want him at Rovers to be honest...

[Amo]

I'd kill to have Martin O'Neil here.

With Hoilett & Olsson in our side, we're set-up for direct, counter-attacking football. And O'Neil proved at Leicester he can work on a budget.

EDIT: We'd also get less shafted on MOTD.

[Majiball]

B.O.L.L.O.C.K.S. to Rafa, rumours abound Moyes could be leaving Everton this summer.

Yes please chicken overlords.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Pure Manna from heaven in current circumstances.

[FourLaneBlue]

Id rather have Sam over Rafa.

Is that the same Sam that, other than one notably brief wobble of faith, you backed fully to the hilt?

[SuperCat]

I didnt read the first post so I dont know if the poster is pro or anti rafa.

However my hatred for this fat waiter is so much that i just have to post to say he isnt a manager.

There are only 2 reasons he lasted so long at Liverpool

a. champions league victory - lucky *&!$*

b. bought Torres

Reason a. bought him 3 extra years

Reason b. bought him an extra 3 years

Meanwhile the longer he stayed the more he destroyed Liverpool.

EDIT: Just seen someone mention O'Neil - do me a favour san. Kean all day long over Rafa, O'Neil (and BFS for that matter).

[gumboots]

I didnt read the first post so I dont know if the poster is pro or anti rafa.

However my hatred for this fat waiter is so much that i just have to post to say he isnt a manager.

There are only 2 reasons he lasted so long at Liverpool

a. champions league victory - lucky *&!$*

b. bought Torres

Reason a. bought him 3 extra years

Reason b. bought him an extra 3 years

Meanwhile the longer he stayed the more he destroyed Liverpool.

EDIT: Just seen someone mention O'Neil - do me a favour san. Kean all day long over Rafa, O'Neil (and BFS for that matter).

You're pushing it with rather kean than allardyce, but otherwise you're right. If we're going to hell in a handcart it might as well be with the guy we've got than the other 2.

[Amo]

You're pushing it with rather kean than allardyce, but otherwise you're right. If we're going to hell in a handcart it might as well be with the guy we've got than the other 2.

I know you detest Martin O'Neill, the man, but as a manager he's proven quality.

Look where Villa are without him.

[G Somerset Rover]

Not a massive Rafa fan but I'd take anyone over Kean excluding Ince or Kidd. Seriously loathe the man right through from how he got the job to his p!ss poor performance since being in charge. Still he gives a good presser and got us a point at Arsenal so all is not lost.

[gumboots]

I know you detest Martin O'Neill, the man, but as a manager he's proven quality.

Look where Villa are without him.

Nothing to do with how I feel about O'Neill personally. I just don't feel that he'd do well at Rovers because I doubt we have the cash he'd need or want to do the job. And part of the reason Villa are where they are is because of some of his bad buys. Not saying that's the whole reason, but the squad Houllier has inherited is O'Neill's squad. also seriously worried at some of his decision making at crucial points in the season. I know he did well at Celtic but then that's Scotland and he did have Larssen, who was pure class when it came to goal scoring.

[Amo]

Nothing to do with how I feel about O'Neill personally. I just don't feel that he'd do well at Rovers because I doubt we have the cash he'd need or want to do the job. And part of the reason Villa are where they are is because of some of his bad buys. Not saying that's the whole reason, but the squad Houllier has inherited is O'Neill's squad. also seriously worried at some of his decision making at crucial points in the season. I know he did well at Celtic but then that's Scotland and he did have Larssen, who was pure class when it came to goal scoring.

Whether he'd want the job is immaterial. We weren't discussing that.

Villa have a decent squad of players, and some good youngsters coming through. They should not be staring at relegation.

Under O'Neill they finished 6th consecutively and reached the League Cup final.

[gumboots]

Whether he'd want the job is immaterial. We weren't discussing that.

When did I say we were. I merely said that in my opinion, he wouldn't do well at Rovers unless there was cash to spend and I don't think there will be so he wouldn't be the best manager for us. Now I may be wrong and if he came in I'd try to back him as long as he looked to be doing a decent job, but I don't think he's the man for us.

[Steve Moss]

Mourinho, Van Gaal and Wenger aside, which realistic choices would make your top 20 list?

First, I'm in the anyone but Kean, Ince and Kidd camp.

Second, as I realize that maybe 4-6 are "unrealisitic" I expanded the list slightly. More or less (much less) in order:

Guardiola- allegedly getting burnt out at Barcelona. Maybe nice, quiet Blackburn might be appealing?

Vicente del Bosque- Has stated that he wants to work with Spanish youngsters. Venkys does too. A potential deal?

Gus Hiddink- He's good and we'd get him back in the PL.

David Moyes- May be looking for a job, come summmer.

Slaven Bilic- I think he's ready to step up. And could maximize Kalinic's performance.

Marcello Lippi- A legend who might want back in the game?

Ottmar Hitzfeld- Ditto, plus he is fluent in English.

Ruud Gullit- If he'd manage in Russia and the US, he'd manage here.

Juande Ramos- Ditto, but Russia and the Ukraine.

John Toshack- He should probably be lower on this list, but hugely experienced.

Claudio Ranieri- I probably have him too high on this list.

Luis Scolari- We'd be lucky to get him, he'd bring in the South Americans, and I should move him up the list.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer- Actually should be higher on the list, but might be ready for PL first team management.

Owen Coyle- Other than Burnley, there is no downside.

Simon Grayson- A former Rover who has worked his way up the management ladder and may be ready for the big time.

Chris Hughton- Steady and reliable, treated poorly by Newcastle.

Gus Poyet- I think he's ready and he has the South American connection Venkys is looking for.

Ian Holloway- A clever motivator, we'd be safe with him. Look what he'd done for Blackpool with a fraction of the talent.

Martin Jol- He should be much higher up my list.

Bob Bradley- What can I say? I'm a patriot.

Stuart Pearce- Experienced with youth, which is critical to our future success.

Steve McClaren- Steady and reliable.

MON- if he can still work on a budget, I'd move him up much higher.

Glenn Hoddle- I think he's a class act.

Sam Allardyce- Safe but not exciting, could we pay him enough?

Tony Parkes- Loyal and would do better than Kean.

Giovanni Trapattoni- Only thing against him is his age.

Sven Eriksson- Will do anything for a paycheck.

Rafa Benitez- Loyal only to himself but better than Kean.

[RevidgeBlue]

Is there any substance to this thread or are we just plucking random names out of thin air?

I struggle to think of a more over-rated manager than Rafa to be honest.

[Commondore]

No, I don't want him to manage Rovers, it would be a pretty spectacular mismatch. Still, I've been through this before, and won't waste time arguing other than listing his merits.

Spanish La Liga: 2 wins (not managing Barcelona or Real Madrid, I might add)

Champions League: 1 win, 3 finals.

UEFA cup: 1 win.

Rafa Benitez is not a bad manager. Deal with it.